Wayne Shifflett keeping magic alive at 87-year-old Mingus Magic Shop in Berks County

READING, Pa. (WPVI) -- Paid Sponsor Partnership: Philadelphia Corporation for Aging

From his very first trick, magician Wayne Shifflett will wow you with wonder at Mingus Magic Shop in Reading, Pennsylvania.

"Cups and balls, it's a classic in magic," says Shifflett, owner of Mingus Magic Shop. "It took practice, but nobody knew how it was done, and that's what intrigued me."

LeRoy Mingus founded the shop in 1938. Shifflett walked in 30 years later, in 1968, at age 16.

"I wasn't sure about it. I just wanted to entertain," says Shifflett. "He showed me a magic trick, and it just blew me away."

Mingus quickly became his mentor in magic.

"He really looked after me, got me shows," says Shifflett.

He shares of photo of himself doing magic on "Al Alberts Showcase" from the mid-1970s. He says the episode was celebrating the nation's Bicentennial.

"May 20, 1976 is when I bought the shop from him," he says.

Shifflett has tricks for every skill level, from beginners to more advanced professionals.

"It's all the classics," he says. "A lot of card, magic coins, close-up, mentalism, stage."

He says the Mingus Magic Shop is known for "feather flower magic," which can be used for a variety of different effects.

"It's all handcrafted," he says. "They vanish, they bloom, they appear, they change colors, they multiply."

He says Mingus' magic feather flowers were featured on many TV shows back in the day, like "Happy Days," "The Love Boat" and "Perfect Strangers." They were also used in various movies and by professionals around the world.

Mingus taught Shifflett the feather flower craft.

"I came up with this one actually," he says. "This is what we make."

The shop also has juggling supplies, books and a few puppets.

"Any trick you buy, I do teach you how to do it," he says. "You just have to go home and practice it."

With magic, he says, it's the unknown that draws people in.

"You're making a ball vanish from my hand and going into your hand. How can you possibly do that? And it's sleight of hand," he says. "A lot of magic is psychology and science."

Shifflett spent his career in engineering, as a designer for control systems and power plants before retiring about seven years ago. Magic has always been his side act.

He added a mini theater to the shop where aspiring magicians can practice. It's called the Mingus Magic Mini Vaudeville Theatre, named for his mentor who performed during the Vaudeville days. He says it's mini because, "it's only 18 seats."

And many famous magicians have visited the shop, like Wayne Hoffman.

"He started coming in here when he was about 12 years old, and now he's a world-renowned mentalist," says Shifflett. "This magic shop has a legacy and a history behind it."

With Shifflett, Mr. Mingus' magic lives on, since he's also been a mentor to many aspiring magicians.

"I enjoy it," he says.

Shifflet holds lectures and events throughout the year at Mingus Magic Shop.

This weekend you can check out some live magic for free at their annual "Magic Till Midnight" event on November 1, so bring the family.

For more information:

Mingus Magic Shop - Wayne Shifflett
"Magic Till Midnight" Event - Nov. 1 noon - midnight

Mingus Magic Shop
528 Lancaster Ave.
Reading, PA 19611